Polk County offers Open Houses to view proposed flood hazard maps

Two events will allow Polk County residents to view new flood hazard maps before final adoption

BARTOW – New digital flood hazard maps for portions of Polk County will become effective on December 22, 2016. The maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps, show areas throughout the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) portion of Polk County are at risk for flooding. These maps are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements.

The maps were developed by SWFWMD, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Polk County.

Residents and business owners can use the maps to obtain reliable information about their flood risk on a property-by-property basis. The maps also provide flood zone and elevation data to help community planners, engineers, builders and others decide where and how new structures, developments, and remodeling projects should be built.

The maps can be viewed online at this link or in person at the Neil Combee Administration Building, 330 W. Church Street, Bartow.

The Polk County Board of County Commissioners is also hosting two Flood Risk Open Houses for residents to look up their property and talk to local officials and mapping and insurance specialists. There will be no presentation; property owners are welcome to come at their convenience during the open house times:

• 3:30–6:30 p.m., Aug. 24th at Chain of Lakes Complex, 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven, FL 33880
• 3:30–6:30 p.m., Aug. 25th at Bartow Civic Center, 2250 S Floral Ave, Bartow, FL 33830